Match Recap: FC Dallas 2, Real Salt Lake 1

Castillo nets winner for shorthanded FCD to move into tie for first place in MLS

August 22, 2014

Kevin Lindstrom

MLSsoccer.com

FRISCO, Texas -- Fabian Castillo and FC Dallas continued their current mastery of MLS, overcoming a first-half red card to Blas Perez to post a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake at Toyota Stadium.

The win extended FCD's unbeaten streak to 10 and -- at least temporarily -- drew them level with RSL, Seattle Sounders FC and Sporting Kansas City at the top of the MLS Supporters Shield standings.

For RSL, the loss ended a three-game winning streak, and continued their struggles in Frisco, where they are 1-10-2 in 13 matches all-time.

Castillo was the catalyst for the Dallas attack on the evening, as he has been all season, and he scored the eventual winner in the 74th minute. It was Castillo's ninth goal of the season, a career high.

Defender Je-Vaughn Watson scored the opener for FCD in the 50th minute, not long after the most controversial moment of the match: a second yellow card to FCD forward Blas Perez just before halftime. After being fouled by defender Chris Schuler, Perez was shoved by Schuler and fell to the ground. Schuler was given a yellow card for unsporting behavior and Perez, who was already on a yellow card for unsporting behavior in the 31st minute, was given a second yellow for simulation, resulting in his ejection from the match.

It was Dallas’ ninth red card of the season, a league high and single-season record for the club.

The second half started with RSL trying to find cracks in the Dallas defense, but it was the Texas club that scored first. In the 50th minute, Michel took a corner that deflected off of Schuler and into the path of Watson, who chested the ball into the goal.

The goal breathed life into both teams as RSL chased the game and Dallas were full of hope that they could find a way to get the win. That way was through Castillo, who rounded RSL defender Nat Borchers and stroked his shot into the far low corner past goalkeeper Nick Rimando for his third game-winning goal this season.

RSL pulled a goal back in second-half stoppage time when Olmes Garcia's bicycle kick deflected off a defender and past Raul Fernandez, but it was too little, too late.

Dallas visit the Chicago Fire next Saturday, August 30, while RSL stay on the road, traveling to San Jose to take on the Earthquakes on the same day.